Flashback - Departure and Arrival in Okinawa - 3 July 2007

Dear family and friends:

Hope you are well. This afternoon I fly to Seattle, WA, followed by a flight to Okinawa, Japan, on Thursday morning. I'll be in Okinawa for 2 years with intermittent deployments to areas in the south Pacfic as well as places I dont' know of yet. I do not yet have a mailing address but will be sending that out upon establishing a residence.

There are many people on this email list, and I realize I haven't talked to some of you in a long time. As I am going to be keeping in touch every now and then with an update email, I would love to hear from you about what is going on in your life, and I'll do my best to keep up with you too. The reason you're getting this is because you've been an important part of my life at one point or another, and I'd love to maintain that contact as we continue to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). Email will be the best way to do this, as well as a VOIP phone program called Skype which is free to download and have an account with (go to skype.com). My username for that is steven.haack.

Many of you are aware of the recent events in my life, and I want to let you know that I appreciate the outpouring of prayers, support, emails, phone calls, etc... Whether or not you're aware of what I'm talking about, know this... I am going to be ok because there is One who sits on the throne of my life who is far above all the troubles and trials this world and this life have to offer; His name is Jesus Christ. I've even got His promises to go along with it. "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" - Jesus (John 16:33). "...we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces endurace; endurance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not dissapoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts..." (Romans 5:3-5). Pray for God to give me strength and wisdom as I go to fulfill my orders in Okinawa. Until next time, "store up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20).

In Him who is able to do immeasurably more,
Steven Robert Haack
2nd Lieutenant - USMC